Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) plans to expand the city’s bus network and intercity bus service in response to growing demand for public buses that are better integrated with other modes of public transport, such as as the metro, tramway and maritime transport.

The announcement was made by RTA on Wednesday following its recent virtual “Talk to Us” session, during which they received several proposals, comments and ideas from commuters. “Discussions focused on internal bus routes in various areas of Dubai and intercity routes connecting Dubai with other emirates in the UAE,” RTA noted.

“The session concluded with several concrete suggestions and observations, including the potential expansion of Dubai’s bus network and intercity bus service. This proposal responds to the growing demand for public bus services and such integration is essential to ensure smooth and efficient daily travel for passengers across the UAE,” RTA added.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels.

According to RTA, buses carried 89.2 million passengers from January to June this year, accounting for 24.5 percent of the total number of public transport passengers in the first half of 2024.

Reduce traffic during peak hours

The proposal to expand the bus network also follows a suggestion from the RTA earlier this month to implement remote work policies and flexible hours This could reduce peak hour traffic on Dubai’s main roads by 30 percent.

Angel Tesorero

Angel Tesorero is an associate editor and funny guy in the newsroom, but he’s very serious about writing about transportation, labor migration and environmental issues. He is also a food lover.